Prince Hugo of Knootcap
| Prince Hugo of Knootcap | ||||||||
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| Preceded by: Prince Maurice of Knootcap |
Stadtholder 1625-1647 |
Succeeded by: Gozewijn of Knootcap |
Hugo of Knootcap (born 1589) was the younger cousin of Prince Maurice of Knootcap As a boy he was trained to arms by Maurice, who was one of the finest generals of his age. On the death of Maurice in 1625, Hugo succeeded him in his paternal dignities and estates and in the important posts of captain and admiral-general of the United Provinces of Knootoss. He married in the same year to the Pantocratorian Helena Comnenus who was only half his age. She left him one surviving son, Gozewijn, and four daughters.
Hugo was almost as good a general as his cousin, and a far more capable statesman and politician. For twenty-two years he remained at the head of government in the United Provinces, and in his time the power of the stadtholderate reached its highest point. It was marked by great military and naval triumphs, by world-wide maritime and commercial expansion, and by a wonderful outburst of activity in the domains of art and literature.
